Electrical operated and controlled railway-signal



.- A No. 750,117. A n BAffNTBD-JANJQ,1904.

R1. D.' PETBRS. I

ELECTRICAL vOPBRATLD AND GONTROLLEDRAILWAY SIGNAL.

` APPLIGATION' FILED NQ'VV21, 1902. y N0 MODEL.-` y 1 4SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 750,117. PATENTED IAN. 19, 1904.

` R. D. PETERS. ELECTRICAL OPERATED AND CONTROLLER RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.21, 1902. H0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

110.750,11?. .PATBNTBD JAN.19,1904.

R. D. PETERS.

ELECTRICAL OPERA'IED AND GONTROLLED RAILWAYy SIGNAL.

APPLIATION FILED NOV. 21. 1902. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

v N M N N Q No. 750,1 1v.

UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904:.

ROBERT D. PETERS, OF KNOX, INDIANA.

ELECTRICAL OPERATED AND CONTROLLEDA RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,117, dated Januaryie, 1904.

Application filed November 2l, 1902. Serial'No. 132,301. (No model.)

T all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. PETERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knox, in the county of Starke and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Operated and Controlled Railway-Signals, of which the following is a speciiication.

My inventionl relates to improvements in electrically operated and controlled railwaysignals; and the object is to provide a device or apparatus of the kind named and for the purposes intended which combines a day-signal and a night-signal which may be operated by and associated with a track-circuit or by an electric device mounted on a car and complete the signal-operating circuit by suitable metallic connections therewith.

The invention embodies asemaphore, a revoluble disk having recurring designatingcolors movable synchronously with the semaphore, electrically-controlled means to lock aggroupment in operative combinations, as

will be specified, and the novelty claimed particularly and distinctly pointed out.

I have fully and clearly illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein- Figure l is a vertical section through the column and the signal-case, showing the arrangement of the electromagnets, the releasing and locking armatures, and rotatable disk with locking-lug. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the supporting-column and signal-casing, showing the lamp and the signal mechanism in side elevation and the rotatable signal-disk with a portion of the semaphore in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a front view in elevation of the supporting-column on the revoluble disk, the signal-colors being designatedv on the signal-panes. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse view through the coluvmn and the signal-casing, showing the lamp and the signal mechanism in front elevation.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of arrangement of the signals on each side of the track,

a car with an electric generator mounted thereon, and a diagrammatic delineation of circuits to be made successively active by the source on the car. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arranged in operative succession along the track.

In the drawings similar reference designations appearing in the several illustrations denote the same parts.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the hollow columns arranged at determined distances along the track and made of such diameter as to accommodate the operatingweight and the convenient reception of the circuit-wires which energize the electromagnets and actuate the armatures thereof. On the top of each column A is mounted a circucular casing B of such size and capacity as may suit it to receive the signal mechanism and support it in operative relation. The

. casing B is supported on and connected to the upper end or head of the column by a socket or sleeve l at its base, which fits down over the upper portion of the column a suiiicient distance to insure a firm andstrong connection, substantially as shown in the drawings. rIhe back of the signal-casing is closed by a suitable circular plate 2, formed with jbearings 3 4, (see Fig. 2,) in which one end of the shafts, hereinafter mentioned, is journaled-.`

The signal side of the casing is closed by a disk 5, the upper portion of which-is formed with an open frame 6, provided with a transparent pane 7 of such area as will always permit the reiiections of the signal-lamp to be emitted through it. The disk or closure 5 is formed with a bearing 8 in alinement with the bearing 8 and is also formed with a bearing 9 in alinement with the bearing 4 in the back of the casing.

In the bearings 3 and 8 is journaled a shaft l0, which is extended a suitable distance outward beyond the bearingS, as shown, and has fixed to the extension the signal-frame revoluble with the shaft l0. The signal frame or wheel comprises a hub 1l, mounted on the shaft l0, radially-extending arms 12 13 14:, di-

viding the frame or wheel into three equal IOO segmental areas, parts, or openings, and a strong rim part 15, connecting the outer ends of the arms. Radially secured to the wheel is rigidly secured a semaphore 16 of any suitable construction. The semaphore 16 is so disposed and arranged that its movements will present to visual observations in proper relative positions the signals such positions are intended to convey, as safety when in vertical position, normal danger when turned to second position, and full danger when turned to third position.

In the bearing 9 is journaled one end of a shaft 17, whereon is mounted a gear-wheel 18, which meshes with a pinion 19. On the shaft 17 is loosely mounted a sleeve 20,which, with the shaft, extends through the bearing 4 and has on its end a crank-handle 21. On the sleeve 20, adjacent to the gear-wheel 18, is mounted a drum 22, on which is a cable or rope 23, the end of which is secured to a suitable staple or support 24 in the column, as shown. Onthe cable 23 is hung a weight 25 of sufficient gravity to operate the signal mechanism promptly and with certainty when required. To the inner face of the gear-wheel 18 is iiXed a ratchet 26, with which a pawl 27, pivotally supported on the face of the drum, engages, the arrangement being such that the ratchet and pawl lock the gear wheel and drum together, but permit the cord to be wound up on the drum without disturbing or rotating the gear-wheel.

In the signalcase are suitably mounted three electromagnets 28 29 30, radially arranged in relation to the shaft 10. These magnets are preferably placed in non-conducting cylindrical cases 31, which are fastened in the signal-casing', the casings 31 being provided with bearing-lugs 32, wherein are pivotally supported armatures 33, to the outer ends of which are secured releasingsprings 34, which lift the armatures from the cores of the respective magnets when the circuits to them are broken, as indicated in the drawings. A metallic circuit is provided for each magnet to draw the armatures into contact with the cores of the magnets. The circuits are so arranged that they act independently of each other to operate the armatures. On the shaft 10 is mounted a disk 35, having aradial locking-lug 36 projecting from its perimeter, as shown, which travels in the path of the free end of the armatures against which the lug lodges, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and holds the disk 35 against further rotation until the armature is drawn down from such engagement into contact with the core of the magnet. A suitable supporting-plate 37 is secured in the casing, whereon is seated a lamp 38, which emits its rays through the white glass 7 when the semaphore stands at safety through the white pane of the revoluble signal-frame, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

To provide access to the interior of the signal-casing for such purposes as may be necessary, a section 39 is hinged, as at 40', thereto, which closes down and is secured by any proper latch or lock 41. In the hinged section 39 is a chimney 42, over which is arranged a hood 43 to provide the requisite draft and protection for the lamp.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be perceived, Figs. 1 and 3, that the semaphore and the white glass stand normally at safety position, and the semaphore in the day-time and the white glass in the night-time so publish the condition of the track. For instance, in Fig. 1 the upper magnet-armature is holding the semaphore at safety position. Now when the block is invaded by a train,whether the circuits are the usual track circuits or whether the circuit is completed from a source carried by the car, this is the first circuit to be completed and the first magnet to be energized, and the effect is to withdraw the end of the armature from contact or engagement with the lug or detent 36, and thus leaving the weight 25 free to immediately set the signal mechanism in motion to carry the signalwheel, with the semaphore, into the next position, which would be that of danger, where the detent and the armature would engage, and thus hold the semaphore until that magnet would be energized to pull the armature from engagement,when the caution-signal would be displayed, and, i'nally, the white or safety indication would be again reached and displayed.

It will be readily seen from the premises of the foregoing elucidation that the signal mechanism may be readily controlled and actuated, first, by a system of circuits wherein each magnet is electrically connected to a device alongside the track which a passing train will operate to throw a determined magnet into an electrical circuit, substantially as shown and described in my former patent, No. 494,077, dated March 21, 1893, or, second, that a system of electrical circuits may be laid whereby two sections ahead of the invading car may indicate the condition of' the track being invaded, and the third section of the protected block both behind and in advance being left clear. I have illustrated the first system of circuits in Fig. 5 of the drawings, wherein is illustrated ablock of the protected track with a car as in its preliminary invasion of it, and on the car is an electrical generator a, and at the entrance of the block and at successive points are suitable contacts Z1, which are engaged by a suitable contact device o, leading from the generator a on the car.

Referring to the diagrammatic portrayal of the circuits in Fig. 5, it will be seen that when the train first invades the block the signal No. 1, through wire (l, is immediately thrown to dangerj and at the same time by wire the IOO IIO

terminal signal by wire f is thrown. At the neXt contact signal No. 2 is thrown by circuit g, and thus in succession until the series is eX- hausted and the' signals returned to safety Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that when a car invades the block, as indicated by the arrow n, a circuit is set up through battery 0 through wire p to safetymagnet, which will be energized to release its armature from contact with the detent and permit the signal mechanism to be moved to danger. At the same time a circuit is made through wire q to safety-magnet in the signalcasing No. 2 and releases its magnet and the mechanism is turned to danger position. When th'e train contacts with wire 7', the signal is brought to normal danger or green. This also brings the wire s into the circuit, bringing the signal No. 3 to danger. As the train proceeds the wire t is brought into circuit, with the effect that signal No. 2 is turned to normal danger or green, and the wire u brings the signal No. 4to danger or red. As the train progresses the signal No. 3 by wire o is turned to normal danger i or Green, and by wire w signal No. 5 is brought to danger or red, and by wire w the signal N o. l is returned to safety. As the train passes signal N o. i wire y turns that signal to normal danger or green and by wire z turns signal No. 6 to danger or red and by wire n' brings signal No. 2 to safety. When the train asses signalNo. 5, wire o brings that signal to normal danger or green and by wire p returns signal No. 3 to safety When the train passes signal N o. 6, Wire g brings signal No. 6 to normal danger orgreen and by wire r returns signal No. 4C to safety.

As the train on the reverse of the casings, so that they may be'published to visual observation to a train Coming in the direction opposite to the train which is produced. The engineer does not regard the signals to his left hand, but keeps a lookout for those on his right hand.

Having described my invention,WhatIclaim 1s- In a railway-signal, a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, a circular frame mounted on the shaft and divided into segmental areas, transparencies of different colors in the segmental areas, a semaphore secured to the circular frame, a disk on the shaft formed with a stop-lug, a pinion on the shaft, a second shaft journaled in the casing, a gear-Wheel thereon in mesh with the pinion, a drum on the latter shaft, a cable on the drum, a weight on the cable, radially-arranged electromagnets, circuits to operate the magnets independently of each other, pivotally-supported armatures for the magnets arranged to stand normally with their free ends in the path of the stop-lug on the disk, and a lamp to illumine the segmental panes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT D. PETERS.

Witnesses:

T. R. WASHBURN, JACOB P. QUIGLEY. 

